Walking & Working
Happy National Walking Month !
Welcome to my 3rd blog post, I knew this one would be about walking, but not what aspect. Hiking? Strolling through nature? Or walking for purpose? There are many aspects of walking culture that interest me.
I went for a run (more of a walk in the end! I’m not good at running alone) in Sheffield Botanical Gardens and remembered how important walking through here had been when I was a junior doctor on a psychiatry attachment, many years ago now! It was a demanding role in Nether Edge Hospital 2 miles from my house. Happily, this meant walking through the gardens each day to get to and from work. My trip this week reminded me how I had felt, leaving the stresses of the day behind me in the garden, not taking them home. Walking was important to me then and still is essential now.
Botanical Gardens pic June 2021
Research by Sustrans has shown the health benefits attained from travelling actively far outweigh the harms caused by air pollution. Uniting the Movement strategy launced in 2021 by Sport England clearly stated the importance of everyday journeys in population health, to get recommended amounts of physical activity The report highlighted how important attractive spaces for people are in achieving this goal.
In National Walking Month I’ve been thinking about how else I’ve used walking in the working day besides commuting. A walking meeting is a great way to multi-task, have a conversation & be active.
Spectacular Woolley Wood bluebells, just half a mile from work.
When I first started my role with SYMCA it coincided with bluebell season in Woolley Woods- the perfect excuse to get people out for introductions.
Walking and talking with colleagues old and new, from Sheffield & Rotherham Wildlife Trust Sheffield Environmental Sheffield Chamber Living Streets South West Peak District Mosaic Ingle Runners & SYMCA
The meeting went well, surely no coincidence! So, to get to know the other people and places in the other local authorities I set off to Rotherham Barnsley & Doncaster I learnt what was important for people to be active in each place. It struck me as a GP, we have little interaction with council teams. Often we aren’t aware of what local amenities are right on the door step for the communities we serve. I only found out about the Woolley Wood bluebells about 5 years ago, thats 17 seasons I missed since I joined the practice in 2002!
Rotherham town centre, with active travel officers Laurie & Jim from Living Streets, Gilly Brenner Public Health Consultant for Rotherham.
Back in practice, I have had successful walking tutorials with our junior doctors. I’ve found these very rich conversations, barriers to a good dialogue aren’t there & our working relationships have improved. Very productive- and active too of course!
Dr Nelson Jong & Dr Hafsah Nawaz with Sheffield Greenground map, in Concord Park 2023. 61% of Sheffield is greenspace, there are lots of places for a good walk!
Evidence shows there are many ways of using activity to build positive relationships in teams . Other places around the world adopt different approaches to reducing inactivity, recognising people who work from home have just as much to benefit from incoporating walking into their working day.
These are some of the ways I’ve been active at work, I’d love to hear your ideas & tips to get some more inspiration. Thank you for reading & wishing you a happy Walking Month!